Is it ethical for a chemist to use multi-dose vaccine vials?

Answered by: Dr Chandra M Gulhati | Editor, MIMS, New Delhi

Q:Late last year I took an injection of Hepatitis-B (Unichem Laboratories) that cost me Rs. 110 from a medical store. One of my friend's had taken an injection of Rs. 350 of a different company. Is it possible that the injection I have taken is cheap and is harmful for me? The medical store owner told me that I was getting it cheaper because I got the dose from the bottle containing multiple doses for more than 10 people.
Please resolve my confusion as I have taken only 1 dose and that also for the first time in my life.

A:In many brands of Hepatitis-B vaccine, there is a substantial difference in the price of single-dose and multi-dose products. However, multi-dose vials are meant for doctors when they vaccinate a large number. How could a chemist supply a dose from a multi-dose vial? Apparently he/she injected the dose. This is not correct. In fact it not even lawful. You are not even aware if the dose was from a reputed manufacturer.
In fact some single-dose vaccines from reputed manufacturers are even less expensive. For example you can buy a single-dose 1ml Genevac-B of Serum Institute of India for just over Rs. 100/-.